Wingless Super Eagles Lose 2-0 To Rampaging Serbia
A rampaging Serbia team led by Aleksandar Kolorov thrashed the Super Eagles of Nigeria 2-0 in an international friendly match played at the Hive Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr made four changes to the side that defeated Poland 1-0 in Wroclaw on Friday night.
Tyronne Ebuehi replaced Shehu Abdullahi at right back, Chidozie Awaziem deputised in central defence for Leon Balogun who failed a late fitness test, Ogenyi Onazi came in for injured Kelechi Iheanacho while Ahmed Musa switched places with Odion Ighalo in the attack.
The Super Eagles started the match on the back foot with the Serbs putting the Nigerian defence under all sorts of pressure. The assault on the Nigerian defence was led by Newcastle United flop Aleksandar Mitrovic who forced Francis Uzoho to a save in the 9th minute after he nutmegged Onazi at the edge of the box.
The Nigerian team played without purpose in midfield as Wilfred Ndidi and Joel Obi failed woefully to impose themselves in the midfield dominated by the duo of Nemanja Matic and Dusan Tadic.
The only attack worthy of mention was when Victor Moses showed quality by turning sharply in the opponent’s 18-yard box and released a good shot which was palmed away by Vladimir Stojkovic in goal for Serbia.
The Nigerian team was extremely lucky to finish the first half goalless because Aleksandar Mitrovic’s header in the 23rd minute had clearly crossed the line before Uzoho could get to the ball. Replays showed that the goal should have been given by the referee.
Gernot Rohr brought on Odion Ighalo for Victor Moses at the beginning of the second half to give the attack more bite. The Super Eagles continued to wobble in the second stanza with no cohesion in defence, no fluidity in midfield and no penetration in attack.
It was no surprise when Serbia took a well-deserved lead in the 68th minute through Aleksandar Mitrovic after some good work down the left flank by Filip Kostic. Mitrovic was left unmarked as he coolly slotted the ball past the helpless Francis Uzoho in goal for Nigeria.
It became 2-0 in the 81st as Aleksandar Mitrovic got his second goal of the night, Filip Kostic again slicing through the Nigerian defence like hot knife through butter as he laid the ball on a platter for Mitrovic to slot in.
The Nigerian coach made a raft of changes in the second half with the introduction of Moses Simon, John Ogu, Mikel Agu, Ola Aina and Junior Ajayi; However, the changes made by Gernot Rohr failed to yield the desired result.
